Disposable footwear with grounding means

ABSTRACT

The device comprises a sole, a strap secured to the sole to receive the lower part of the foot of the wearer and hold same in position on the sole, and electrostatic grounding tape connecting the shoe or foot of the wearer to the underside of the sole.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,800,446 Pass Apr. 2, 1974 [54] DISPOSABLE FOOTWEAR WITH 2,119,233 5/1938 Judkins 36/115 GROUNDING MEANS 3,442,034 5/1969 Moore et al. 36/7.l R 3,603,006 9/197] Davenport et a1. 36/115 [75] Inventor: Jan Pass, Thornhill, Ontario,

Canada [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Inc., New York, NY. a part interest [22] Filed: Feb. 20, 1973 21 App]. No: 333,751 [571 ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. 36/7.l R, 317/2 The device comprises a Sole a Strap Secured to the 51 1m. (:1. A43b 3/16, HOSf 3/00 Sole to receive the lower Part of the foot Of Wear [58] Field 01 Search 36/7.l R 11.5- 317/2 and hold Same in P0Sition the 816, and elect static grounding tape connecting the shoe or foot of [56] References Cited the wearer to the underside of the sole.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,358,188 12/1967 Zimmon 36/7.| R 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures DISPOSABLE FOOTWEAR WITH GROUNDING MEANS FIELD OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed toward a disposable device adapted to be worn on the foot of a wearer who may but need not wear shoes. Such devices are used in hospitals, museums and other locations wherein floors are to be protected and feet also. Additional locations under some circumstances can include swimming pools, saunas, beaches, etc.

The build up of static electricity on footware, particularly when a user walks in dry heated areas as for example over carpet in a heated room of low humidity, can produce uncomfortable shocks. In operating rooms, such shocks, when accompanied by sparks, can be extremely hazardous since the various gaseous and liquid anesthetics can explode.

SUMMARY To this end, I provide a sole, strap means secured to the sole at the lower part of the foot to receive the toe portion of the wearer and hold same in position on the sole, and electrostatic grounding means connecting the shoe or foot of the wearer to the underside of the sole.

- As a result, in my invention, the electrostatic charges are grounded at all times, and the build up of static electricity is avoided.

The invention also protects feet of users who can carry my invention with them or have them available for use by guests.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sole has strap means secured to the toe region for detachably receiving the toe portion of the foot 12 of a wearer. The wearer can but need not wear shoes.

The strap portion can consist of two sections 14A and 148 which can overlap with section 14A having an adhesive layer 16 protected by a removable backing sheet 18 prior to use. Alternatively, these sections can be disposed in adjacent spaced position with tape 20 detachably joining same.

Section 14A can have a hole 22. Electrically conductive tape 24 can have one end disposed in the hole, can be secured by an adhesive layer to the sections of strap and can be secured at its opposite end to the underside of the sole.

The bottom adhesive portion of the tape can be secured to the shoes of the user while the top adhesive portion overlaps and adheres to the other section.

Alternatively, flexible electrically conductive tape or strip 26 can have one end bent under the strap sections and can be otherwise connected as before.

A separately disposed tape 24 can be disposed at rear or side of sole to ground to the underside and prevent static build up as previously described.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An indoor disposable device for use on the foot of a wearer who may but need not wear shoes, said device comprising:

a sole;

strap means secured to the sole at the toe portion to receive the toe portion of the wearer and hold the same in position on the sole; and

electrostatic grounding means connecting the shoe or foot of the wearer to the underside of the sole; wherein the grounding means is an electrically conductive flexible member;

wherein the member is a strip of tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer; and

wherein the strap means has a top opening exposing foot or shoe and wherein the tape overlies at least a portion of the strap means with one end of the tape extending into the opening. 

1. An indoor disposable device for use on the foot of a wearer who may but need not wear shoes, said device comprising: a sole; strap means secured to the sole at the toe portion to receive the toe portion of the wearer and hold the same in position on the sole; and electrostatic grounding means connecting the shoe or foot of the wearer to the underside of the sole; wherein the grounding means is an electrically conductive flexible member; wherein the member is a strip of tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer; and wherein the strap means has a top opening exposing foot or shoe and wherein the tape overlies at least a portion of the strap means with one end of the tape extending into the opening. 